42 BULLETIN 1061, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
The simplest method of sowing is to broadcast the seed over the 
natural grass land. From 2 to 4 pounds of seed per acre is believed 
to be about the right amount. After the sowing, if the land is clear 
enough to permit it, a spike-tooth or spring-tooth harrow should be 
run over it for the purpose of working the seed down to the soil. 
In this grass the seed will generally settle in the openings sufficiently 
to come close to mineral soil, and be afforded partial shade and pro- 
tection against extremes of heat and moisture. A light ground 
cover, such as one season's growth of grass, is generally favorable 
to the establishment of the seedlings. A heavy covering of grass, 
fine leaves ("straw"), or oak litter, which might not keep the seed 
from germinating, would, however, prevent many of the seedlings 
from becoming established. Another method of sowing that has 
given fair results in loose, "black jack" soil, consists of drilling in 
the seed with an ordinary corn planter or seed drill. The drill should 
be low-built and strong, and preferably of the type that passes every 
seed in plain view of the operator. A bull-tongue or a scraper may 
be used, depending upon the character of the soil. A quiet, steady 
animal, needless to say, is desirable, on account of roots and other 
obstructions. The seed should be barely covered, not in excess of 
one-quarter of an inch. A modified and usually more expensive 
method wiuld be to drop and cover about 10 to 15 seed in a prepared 
"hill " or seed spot, using a hoe or a mattock much as in planting a 
garden. Several furrows may be run, and the seed may be sown 
broadcast over the area and brushed or harrowed in. 
The aim should be to get trees growing at regular intervals of 
about 8 to 10 feet, or from 680 to 430 trees per acre. Because of the 
inevitable loss of some seed and seedlings from various causes, there 
will be a better chance of a good stand at, say, 10 years of age if more 
than 680 trees are started. Until further knowledge is available re- 
garding methods of starting young longleaf stands, it will be desir- 
able to make small-scale test sowings under different methods, with 
such variation as may seem advisable to suit local conditions, in order 
to determine which is most suitable for more extensive operations. 
During the fall of 1920, a large sawmill concern in Louisiana 
collected about 4,000 pounds of seed of longleaf pine and also some 
seed of other species. It was obtained in part from dried cones 
("burrs") picked from trees felled in logging, but mostly by the 
cheaper and more satisfactory method of gathering up cones that 
had opened on the ground after falling, and shaking the seeds out 
into a pan or tub. Incidentally it may be mentioned that the price 
paid to the collectors was 50 cents per pound. The seed was sown 
broadcast, part on plowed strips spaced 8 feet apart, each made up 
of several furrows and afterwards harrowed to work the seed in, and 
